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ministry of magic - How did Perkins find out that the time of Harry's trial had changed?


Harry and Mr Weasley only find out about the change in the time of Harry's hearing because of Perkins, who works in Mr Weasley's office. Their conversation gives the impression that it was pure coincidence that Harry and Mr Weasley came in early and that Perkins was able to find them.



"Ah, Harry, this is Perkins.”
A stooped, timid-looking old wizard with fluffy white hair had just entered the room, panting.

“Oh Arthur!” he said desperately, without looking at Harry. “Thank goodness, I didn’t know what to do for the best, whether to wait here for you or not, I’ve just sent an owl to your home but you’ve obviously missed it - an urgent message came ten minutes ago -”
“I know about the regurgitating toilet,” said Mr. Weasley.
“No, no, it’s not the toilet, it’s the Potter boy’s hearing - they’ve changed the time and venue - it starts at eight o’clock now and it’s down in old Courtroom Ten."
“Down in old - but they told me - Merlin’s beard -”
Mr. Weasley looked at his watch, let out a yelp, and leapt from his chair.
“Quick, Harry, we should have been there five minutes ago!”
(Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 7, The Ministry of Magic).



What isn't clear is how Perkins might've found out about the change in time and location. The only communication seems to have been from the Wizengamot to Harry by owl.




“Sorry,” said Harry nervously. “I-I didn’t know the time had changed.”
“That is not the Wizengamot’s fault,” said the voice. “An owl was sent to you this morning. Take your seat.”
(Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 8, The Hearing).



Considering that the whole point of the exercise of moving the hearing was to try and get Harry to miss his trial and be expelled automatically it seems strange that Perkins would be privy to this information. I'd have thought that the true trial time would be closely guarded secret within the Ministry.


Perkins clearly didn't see the owl that was sent to Grimmauld Place. So how could he have possibly known about the change in time and location?



Answer



I think you may have misconstrued the order of events slightly. The Ministry moved the trial and a letter was sent by owl to Mr Weasley at impossibly short notice so that there would be plausible deniability that they'd tried to get hold of him.


At the same time it would appear that a member of the Wizengamot (or A.N. Other MoM official) who was loyal to Dumbledore contacted Perkins in order to try to get hold of Mr Weasley. This was separate to the owl/s and was probably an unauthorised action.




As to the identity of the mole, my money is on Madam Bones. In addition to showing an obvious desire to give Harry a fair hearing she was the first to call for a vote to acquit him and personally lead the faction that voted in his favour. Although she wasn't a fully paid-up member of the Order of the Phoenix, she was definitely part of the anti-Voldemort tendency and connected to the Order through her deceased brother, a former member.


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